Barge with releasable supports

ABSTRACT

A container barge adapted for use on an oceangoing barge carrier and for use in conjunction with existing river facilities. The barge having a relatively unobstructed hold, with the longitudinal strakes defining the hold being spaced apart approximately the length of a container, releasable pedestals for supporting containers within the hold, and releasable beams for supporting containers above deck of the barge.

United States Patent [1 1 Nemec et al.

[451 Aug. 20, 1974 1 BARGE WITI-l RELEASABLE SUPPORTS [75] Inventors: Frank A. Nemec; Stuart W. Thayer,

both of New Orleans; William S. Eckert, Kenner; Marion F. Horn, Metairie; Roland J. Dunn, Jr., Covington, all of La.

[73] Assignee: L'ykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc.,

Orleans Parish, La.

[22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,774

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,168,982 l/l9l6 Walker ..114/218 1,901,877 3/1933 Moloney 114/73 2,631,885 3/1953 Ault 280/179 R 3,296,981 1/1967 Bergstrand 105/366 D 3,349,414 10/1967 Gutner 248/243 3,408,972 11/1968 Knight et al. 114/72 3,452,699 7/1969 Oshima 114/72 3,467,044 9/1969 Oshima 114/72 3,494,486 2/1970 Knight et a1. 214/15 R 3,515,086 6/1970 Auzins et a1. [14/435 3,552,345 1/1971 Harlander 114/72 3,624,736 1l/l97l lwami 114/72 Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John Stelmah [5 7] ABSTRACT A container barge adapted for use on an oceangoing barge carrier and for use in conjunction with existing river facilities. The barge having a relatively unobstructed hold, with the longitudinal strakes defining the hold being spaced apart approximately the length of a container, releasable pedestals for supporting containers within the hold, and releasable beams for supporting containers above deck of the barge.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention generally relates to container carrying barges. More particularly, this invention relates to barges which can be used both in ocean and river traffic. This invention also relates to a relatively unobstructed barge hold and releasable means for supporting containers therein. This invention further relates to releasable beam supports for supporting containers above the deck of a barge, with the length of containers extending in a direction corresponding to the length of the barge. This invention further relates to means for supporting containers of different lengths and uncontainerized cargo in a manner which optimizes the use of barge space. t

It is known that a convenient method of transporting cargo is by means of an oceangoing mother ship constructed so that its cargo may consist of lighters or barges, e.g., that shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,276, issued to F. A. Nemec. It has not been disclosed, however, how the barges might be effectively designed to store and transport containers in an unobstructed hold or to optimize the carrying capacity of a barge restricted in construction by the conventional limitations of river traffic.

Container ships having a container hold adapted to be divided into a plurality of container cells are known. Transverse beam and container guide assemblies as provided are supported at predetermined spaced locations in the hold and are releasably held by bolts. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,699). The containers are stacked up, one on top another, from the floor of the hold.

Releasable support means for supporting containers within the hold of a ship are known, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,044. However, the releasable support means therein shown require pillars which engage and are supported by the bottom of the hold. Consequently, separate pillars are required for each different height at which the containers are to be supported in an elevated position. Further, the hold is obstructed by fixed container guides and transverse beams. Thus, some of the floor space of the ships hold is occupied by the con,- tainer guides and by the pillars; also, the space beneath the transverse beams is not utilized.

In order to facilitate handling of barges by the capabilities of existing river towing or pushing devices and to insure passage through river locks, it has been found desirable to limit the nominal width or barges to 35 feet. Although many river barges are commonly 200 feet long, it has been found desirable to limit the nominal length of barges for use on oceangoing ships to slightly less than one hundred feet. This facilitates loading and unloading of the barges on and off the mother ship.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide improved barge construction which optimizes the storing of containers, both within the hold and above deck of the barge.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved releasable support means for selectively positioning containers in and on a barge.

his a further object of this invention to provide an improved barge construction adapted for use on oceangoing vessels and for river traffic.

Briefly, the objects are attained by providing a barge having a hold width approximately equal to the length of a container, with the hold being substantially unobstructed and defined by a double-wall. Preferably, sufficient space is provided between the strakes of the double-wall for a man to walk about for inspection purposes. The inner strake defines, or supports, pedestal sockets for receiving releasable pedestal supports. Four pedestals, positioned on the longitudinal strakes and arranged in mutually opposing pairs, receiving the four bottom corners of a container to support the same in an athwart fashion. The pedestals and sockets have complementary portions which define interlock means for releasably securing the pedestals. The use of releasable pedestals permit supporting containers, including pallet type platforms, in elevated positions within the hold without restricting the space beneath the containers so that uncontainerized cargo may occupy the full floor space of the hold. Additionally, releasable crossbeams and means for releasably supporting the same are provided for supporting other containers above the barge deck and the hold hatch covers. Such other containers may be of a length of different from that contained in the hold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional and elevational representation of a barge incorporating the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic: cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of a pedestal and socket arrangement forming a part of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view, partially in section, of a fragmentary portion of a preferred form of end beam, support legs and securing means, for supporting containers above the barge deck; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a fragmentary portion of a preferred form of center beam and associated structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the barge 10 is there shown as containing a horizontal tier of athwartly extending containers AC within the hold 12 in an elevated position and tiers of longitudinally extending containers LC above the coaming l4 and hatch covers 16.

The shell 18 of the barge 10 is preferably of the double wall type, with transverse strakes 20 and 22 longitudinal extending strakes 24 and 26 (FIG. 2) defining the inside walls, and transverse strakes 28 and 30 and longitudinal extending strakes 32 and 34 defining the outside walls. The walls are reinforced with intermediate truss frames 36. The walls are also preferably spaced apart two to three feet in order to provide access room for inspection, etc.

In order to optimize the use of space within the hold 12, the hold width W is preferably dimensioned to nominally match the length of a container, i.e., the length plus a nominal clearance, e.g., in a most preferred embodiment, the hold width is 30 feet 3 inches for accommodating 30 foot long containers. The positioning of the containers AC in the hold in an athwart direction facilitates the supporting thereof without the need of any supports intermediate the inside strakes 24 and 26 and thus leaves the hold 12 unobstructed. The preferred barge embodiment is provided with a shell having an inspection access space, having a nominal width of 2 /2 feet, between the outside and inside walls and thus with an overall nominal width of 35 feet. Thus the preferred hold having a nominal width of 30 feet admirably fulfills the desideratum of providing a barge having a nominal width of 35 feet to facilitate handling inriver traffic and by existing river barge handling equipment.

In accordance with the present invention, the containers AC are supported by means of releasable pedestals 40. The pedestals 40 are preferably arranged in mutually opposing pairs to receive the bottom corners of a container AC. In FIG. 4, there is illustrated a preferred form of pedestal 40 and of a socket 42 for releasably securing a pedestal. The sockets 42 are arranged .nrs lqqted. heiahtspf thainnctstakes v2.4., and .6 corresponding to the desired elevation of the container to be supported. As will be apparent from the drawing, one pedestal 40 may serve to help support two adjacent containers AC. It will be noted that the pedestals 40 are entirely supported by the side superstructure, including the inner strakes 24 and 26, and do not require a separate pillar member which extends to the floor of the ships hold. Consequently, all of the floor area below a preselected set of sockets 42 may be loaded without any obstructions in the hold 12, including that below the pedestals to be mounted, i.e., the pedestals 40 need not be positioned until after said area is loaded. Also, the need for separate guide members is obviated as is the attendant possibility for damage to said members during loading or unloading.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pedestals 40 includes a horizontal leg 44 and a vertical leg 46. The

horizontal leg 44 defines the supporting surface 48 for a corner of a container AC. The leg 44 also preferably carries a vertical divider 50 for dividing the support surface into two areas 48a and 48b. The divider 50 has sloping portions 52 for laterally guiding and positioning the containers AC. The pedestal 40 also preferably carries positioning means such as projections 54 for longitudinally positioning the containers AC, i.e., in an athwart direction of the barge. There is also provided a pair of male members forming securing lugs 56 which extend away from the support surface 48. Each of the lugs 56 has a keyway 58 adapted to fit a complementary locking member, such as pin 62, in the pedestal socket 42. Preferably, the securing lugs 56 are spaced apart so that their outside faces 56a, when positioned into socket 42, engage the walls and thereby constrain movement of the pedestals 40 in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the barge l0. Longitudinal constraining means, such as lugs 60, may be provided to supplement or to perform the constraining function of lug faces 56a. Reinforcing webs 55 may be optionally provided beneath the horizontal leg 44.

The socket structures 42 are recess mounted within the shell 18 on the inside longitudinal strakes 24 and 26. The sockets 42 maybe provided at a preselected height above the hold floor to provide the maximum space beneath a single vertical row of containers AC within the hold 12. Alternatively, the sockets 42 may be'provided at several preselected heights or at regular increments.

The socket structure 42, as disclosed, comprises a water-tight shell 64 supporting a cleat, in the form of pin 62. The sidewalls 66 of the shell 64 are preferably spaced to provide bearing contact surfaces 68 for engagement with surfaces 56a and to provide surfaces 70 for engagement with lugs 60.

A pedestal 40 is fitted within a socket 42 by lifting the pedestal 40 to a position opposing the socket and in which the lower ends of the securing lugs 56 are above the cleat 62 of the socket; the pedestal 40 is then advanced toward the socket 42 to position the keyways 58 of lugs 56 over the cleat 62; then the pedestal 40 is lowered until the top portions 59 of keys 58 rest on the cleat 62. The lug faces 56a and 61 will mate with the complementary bearing surfaces 68 and 70,- respectively.

While the pedestals 40 of this invention are particularly adapted for supporting containers AC at their four bottom corners, without the need of intermediate supports, the pedestals 40 may also be used to support platforms of pallets upon which uncontainerized goods or small containers can be supported.

An additional feature of the socket structures 42 of this invention is that they may be employed as lashing cleats whenever they are not utilized to support a pedestal 40. A further feature of this invention is the provision of means for supporting containers within the hold 12 and above the deck 13 of a barge 10. In a preferred embodiment, the containers AC within the hold 12 extend athwartly of the barge length and the containers LC above the deck 13 extend collaterally with the barge length. Also, the barge 10 is adapted to support containers of one uniform length within the hold and containers of different length above deck. The means for supporting the containers AC has been described supra. The means for supporting containers LC will now be described.

Releasable and removable beams EB and CB are provided for supporting containers LC above the coaming 14 and hatch covers 16 of the barge 10. EB designates an end beam positioned at the fore or aft ends of the barge while CB designates a center beam, one which is between the end beams and spans the entire width of the hatch covers. One or more center beams may be used on a single barge; in the case where two containers span the longitudinal length of the barge, only one center beam CB is required; where three containers span the barge length, two center beams CB may be required. The center beam CB is preferably of box beam I construction. The end beams EB need not span the entire width of the hatch. They may be placed in front of or behind the end coaming and be supported in an elevated position by support legs which are closer together than those legs supporting the center beams.

A fragmentary portion of a preferred embodiment of an end beam EB is illustrated in FIG. 5. The main body of the beam is shown as having a typical I cross-section. Support legs 72 are provided to suitably raise the top support surface 74 just above the top of the coaming l4 and hatch covers 16. The lower ends of the legs 72 may be reinforced on the opposing sides of the web 76 with plates 78. A hole 79 extending through the web 76 and plates 78 is adapted to receive means for releasably joining to the barge deck. The legs 72 are. positioned inwardly from the ends of the beam EB in order to reduce the span between the legs 72, thus making it possible to use l-beams of reduced cross-section and weight. The legs 72 are shown to be releasably joined to the barge deck by means of bolt 80 extending through brackets 82 and web 76. The brackets 82 are secured to double plate 84 on the barge deck 13.

Additional holding means may be provided to further deter lateral movement of the beam, i.e., in a line collateral with the longitudinal extent of the barge. Such means are shown to be in the form of transverse brackets 86 welded to the underside of the l-beam section and link members 88. The link members 88 are spaced apart a distance generally corresponding to the width of coaming structure 14 for releasable attachment thereto by means of arms 90.

Each of the end beams EB is also provided with container positioning guides 92 and 94 and lashing rings 100. It will be noted that each ring 96 is positioned closely adjacent to a guide 92 or 94 and the spacing between guides generally corresponds to the width of a container LC. The guide 92 is shown to comprise upright sections 96 and an arcuate portion 98 forming sloping sections for slidably guiding a container LC to rest between two guides on the support surface 72. The end guide 94 is similar to guide 92 except that the guide 94 has only one sloping section. The guide 94 may be described as comprising one-half of a guide 92 with a leg 97 added.

A fragmentary portion of a preferred embodiment of a center beam CB is illustrated in FIG. 6. There the center beam CB is shown to be of a box-like construction comprising a bed-plate 102, up-standing walls 104 and 106, and upper plate 108. The beam CB may be reinforced with a suitable number of webs 110 which extend from wall 104 to wall 106. The bed-plate 102 and upper plate 108 may both be provided with water drainage holes 112. The top plate 108 is additionally provided with holes 114 which are ofa size to considerably reduce the overall weight of the beam CB and which will provide access to the space 116 between webs 110. Thus the space 116 may be utilized for stowage of lashings, fittings, etc. The width of the beam CB is sufficient to provide sufficient access between the opposing end faces of adjacent containers for lashing the containers to the lashing rings 100 provided on the top plate 108 to facilitate the securing of containers LC to the beam CB. The positioning and securing of containers LC is further facilitated by the provision of positioning means such as cones 118 on bed-plate 102.

The beam CB is provided with legs 120 to elevate the beam above the coaming 14 and hatch covers 16 at a level so that the top surface of bed-plate 102 corresponds with support surface 74 of end beam EB after both beams EB and CB are positioned. The legs 120 may be reinforced to deter lateral movement with end plates 122 and 124. The center portion 125 of outside end plate 124 is sufficiently short to provide access to the releasable securing means provided at the ends of the legs 120. The legs 120 are adapted to be secured to brackets 126 upstanding from doubler plate 128 on the deck 13 by means of securing bolts 130 and nuts 132. The securing means, bolt 130 and nut 132, is shown in conjunction with only one leg 120, to deter obscuring the drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. A barge having a hold for transporting containers of substantially uniform length, said barge having longitudinal extending sidewalls of double wall construction, which construction comprises an inner strake and an outer strake, said barge being characterized by:

the inner strakes of said sidewalls being spaced apart a distance substantially corresponding to but greater then the length of said containers,

a pair of socket means spaced along the length of each of said inner strakes a distance substantially corresponding to the width of said containers, and mutually opposing a pair on the opposing inner strake,

said socket means being located outside of the spacing between said inner strakes, and thus being outside of said hold and pedestal means for said socket means,

said socket means being adapted to releasably receive said pedestal means for supporting said containers in an elevated position within said hold, and

there being no bulkheads between said inner strakes, thus leaving said hold substantially unobstructed therebetween.

2. A barge, as described in claim 1, wherein:

each pedestal has positioning means complementary to and for positioning in said socket means, and guide means integral with and on the top extended surface of said pedestal for laterally positioning and limiting lateral movement of a cargo container.

3. A barge, as described in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of pairs of said socket means are provided in each of said sidewalls, and are arranged in horizontal tiers, and

two pairs within a horizontal tier are comprised of three socket means, with an intermediately disposed socket means of said three forming a socket means for each of said two pairs.

4. A barge, as described in claim 1, which pedestal means comprises:

a load support leg having a platform surface for supporting a container;

a reinforcing leg extending generally transverse to and from a lateral edge of said platform leg;

arm means extending generally away from and generally normal to each of said platform surface and said reinforcing leg;

said arm means having securing means for releasably securing said pedestal to and complementary to said socket means.

5. A barge as described in claim 1 wherein:

said socket means are defined by each of their respective inner strakes.

6. A barge as described in claim 1 wherein:

said socket means are recessed within the space between the strakes of a sidewall. 

1. A barge having a hold for transporting containers of substantially uniform length, said barge having longitudinal extending sidewalls of double wall construction, which construction comprises an inner strake and an outer strake, said barge being characterized by: the inner strakes of said sidewalls being spaced apart a distance substantially corresponding to but greater then the length of said containers, a pair of socket means spaced along the length of each of said inner strakes a distance substantially corresponding to the width of said containers, and mutually opposing a pair on the opposing inner strake, said socket means being located outside of the spacing between said inner strakes, and thus being outside of said hold and pedestal means for said socket means, said socket means being adapted to releasably receive said pedestal means for supporting said containers in an elevated position within said hold, and there being no bulkheads between said inner strakes, thus leaving said hold substantially unobstructed therebetween.
 2. A barge, as described in claim 1, wherein: each pedestal has positioning means complementary to and for positioning in said socket means, and guide means integral with and on the top extended surface of said pedestal for laterally positioning and limiting lateral movement of a cargo container.
 3. A barge, as described in claim 1, whereiN: a plurality of pairs of said socket means are provided in each of said sidewalls, and are arranged in horizontal tiers, and two pairs within a horizontal tier are comprised of three socket means, with an intermediately disposed socket means of said three forming a socket means for each of said two pairs.
 4. A barge, as described in claim 1, which pedestal means comprises: a load support leg having a platform surface for supporting a container; a reinforcing leg extending generally transverse to and from a lateral edge of said platform leg; arm means extending generally away from and generally normal to each of said platform surface and said reinforcing leg; said arm means having securing means for releasably securing said pedestal to and complementary to said socket means.
 5. A barge as described in claim 1 wherein: said socket means are defined by each of their respective inner strakes.
 6. A barge as described in claim 1 wherein: said socket means are recessed within the space between the strakes of a sidewall. 